Improvement in bee-hives



D. LATCH AW.

. Improvement in Bee Hives.

Patented Feb.13, 1872.

fie 5 DAVID LATCHAW, 0F BARKEYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Fatent No. 123,632, dated February13, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, DAVID LATcHnw, of Barkeyville, in the county of Vena-ngo and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Bee-Hive,

.of which the following is a specification:

My hive comprises features which I do not claim to be novel; such, forinstance, as an arrangement of comb-frames designed to form a suitableinclosure for bees without the use of the usual cover or case; also,removable combframes, with top bars, beveled on the under side, and withcentral cross-bars 5 also, sectional supers, or surplus honey-boxes;also, inclined bottom-board; but my invention consists in a peculiarconstruction of the feed-box, as hereinafter specified.

In the drawing, Figure l is a perspective view, Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of my hive. Fig. 4t is alongitudinal section, showing one method of hinging the end-boards ofthe hive having end-boards. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, showingthe grooved double frame standing on anat-bottom board. Fig. 6is alongitudinal section, showing the same frame standing on a slantingdouble-bottom board. Fig. 7 is a view of a comb-frame made with singleupright ends. Fig. Sis a view of the feeder. Fig. 9 is a view of themovable ventilator. Fig. l0 isadetached view of the clamp or binder.

A in the various gures represents the combframes, or rather that part ofthe comb-frames which makes the outer end walls of my hive, Arepresenting the upper or cross-bar of the frames on which the uprightbars are secured. The upper bars A are provided with a triangular strip,et, the upper bar being chamfered on' in accordance with the sides ofthe strip a, except a small portion at the ends where the frames meet.The upright bars are full Width, and when several frames are placedtogether they join and form acontinuous wall; and some of the frames Imake with a bottom strip, a', which also, when united, makes a floor.Thus the comb-frames constitute the main walls of Iny hive, dispensingwith an outside shell or box. To insure the fra-m es fitting closely Imake a tongue, c, on one edge or side of the frames, both uprights andtop rails, where they meet, by which the frames are matched together,and when together cannot slip either up or down or sidewise.

This construction also prevents the admission of heat, cold or moisture,thus rendering the interior of the hive more equable in temperature. Itlikewise facilitates handling of the frames or hive as a whole, sincejarring, displacement, Stc., of the comb are largely obviated, and thebees less frightened or irritated.

For closing up the sides of the hives I make a plain frame, B, havingtongues and grooves to match theframes, in which frames B I have a door,C, which may be removed for examining the inside and for placing in thefeed-boxes or movable partitions. D represents a bottom board on whichIset the frames, which is a plain board having two chests, d d, fastenedacross near the ends, having a rabbet on their upper sides in which thebottom ofthe frames set. The bottom of the frames being raised leaves anairspace between them and the board D. Some of the bottom boards I makewith a slantng board, e, resting on the rear cleat, the front end havinga cleat on top of the board e. The airspace is then between these twobottom boards, the said board e forming the floor of the chamber, inwhich case I leave oft' the bottom strip of the frames A. The framesthat have the bottom strip on then are provided with a mortise, a, atthe front lower corner for the entrance of the bees. E E are partitionsmade in the form of sash, and are glazed for the purpose of admittinglight and enabling one to see the operations of the bees. The top barsof the sash are beveled oft', so as to rest against the triangular sidesof the top bars of theframes A, and are provided with a small bracket,z', on their upper corners to keep them in place. These partitions maybe set in any of the frames A, and are convenient for dividing the hiveinto two rooms, if desired, or one may be set in each side near thedoors C. F, Figs. 3 and S, represents a feeding device, which consistsof a frame having two upright posts or bars, f f. Near the middle ofthem is a cross-bar, j", having a groove or trough, g, in it. The top ofthe frame is made in the form of a trough, h, which has a cloth bottom.The trough la is inten ded to contain honey, which saturates the clothand from which the bees may feed. This feeder may be placed in anyr ofthe frames. The

trough g is designed to receive the drippings of the honey, should suchoccur, by reason of undue heat or coarseness of fabric forming thebottom of the box. G, Figs. 2 and 9, represents a movable ventilator,consisting of a long narrow box, which lies across the top ofthe framesA, and has openings o o in the top covered with wire-gauze. Theseventilators I use when I have small honey-boxes in the hives, but whichmay be removed if larger boxes are required. H, Figs. 2 and 3, representsectional honey-boxes, which are constructed in a similar manner to thecomb-frames, being made in the form of frames having tongues and groovesby which they may be matched together, the side frames having glass inthem. Each ofthe frames is designed to hold one comb. J, Figs. 2 and 10,represents a clamp or binder for securing any number of frames together;and consists of a piece ot' annealed wire or cord of sufficientstrength, the ends being secured to thumb-pins 7' j, which are fittedtightly in holes made in the outside frames. To bind the fram estogether the thumb-pins may be turned, and winding up the cord or wirehold the frames firmly together. The cap A' is made in the ordinarymanner, having a rabbet in the lower inside edge fitting over the edgeof the frames, and is provided with ventilators in the upper corners. Anopening and a little trap-door, is provided by which bees may be allowedegress should any nd their way into the airspace. In the hives that aremade up of the frames without the hinged ends the openings are made inthe outside, having the doors as seen at y, Figs. 5 and 6. Astrip ofwood, z, lying on the bottom board D, upon which the frames A rest,prevents the bees passing into the airspace under the chamber, and it isbeveled oft on the front edge in line with the opening a" to enable thebees to crawl up into the chamber. In the hive, when the slanting bottomis used, this strip is not needed.

I do not claim -hollow walls in a bee-hive, nor a feed-box adapted toslide in and out, nor the binding together of several comb-frames bymeans of wire-cord, dac.; but

What I do claim is- In combination with the comb-frames, provided withbevel-top bars, the feed-boxin g having notched end bars andhoney-receptacles, and trough g, the same being adapted to lit into saidframes, as and for the purpose specied.

DAVID LATCHAW.

Witnesses:

M. LIKEN, H. BARKEY.

